Top councillors shortlisted in annual LGIU and CCLA national Cllr Awards

LEITH LEFT-WINGER NOMINATED FOR AWARD

40 local councillors from across England, Wales and Scotland have been shortlisted for the 2025 LGIU and CCLA Cllr Awards, the only national awards ceremony dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary work of councillors.

Only one – Katrina Faccenda – is a City of Edinburgh Councillor. Leith councillor Ms Faccenda is nominated in the Innovator of the Year category.

Now in their 16th year in England and 8th year in Scotland, the Cllr Awards highlight the vital contribution of councillors, often the unsung heroes of local democracy.

From championing residents’ interests to leading innovation in public services, councillors play a crucial role in shaping communities and improving lives, and they do so while giving up their time and energy for what is often a voluntary, unpaid role.

This year’s competition was extremely tight with more than 400 nominations received across five categories that celebrate the wide-ranging work of councillors: Community Champion, Leader of the Year, Young Councillor of the Year, Innovator of the Year and Lifetime Legend. 

The full England & Wales shortlist is available here and Scotland shortlist can be found here.

Winners in England & Wales will be announced on Tuesday 18 November at the Guildhall in London while winners in Scotland will be revealed on Wednesday 5 November at the Glasgow City Chambers. 

The Cllr Awards judging panels comprise senior councillors and leading stakeholders from across the sector. These are the only national awards to celebrate and showcase the work of individual councillors. This year’s awards are made possible thanks to the generous support of founding partners CCLA.

Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) said: “Our annual Cllr awards demonstrate the best of local government. With more thn 400 nominations, competition was extremely tight with inspiring stories of councillors up and down the country going the extra mile to 2improve their local area. 

“Councillors are at the heart of local democracy, working tirelessly to support their communities and drive change. These awards are about celebrating the often unseen but hugely important contribution councillors make every day.

“This year’s shortlist is a testament to the dedication, creativity and leadership shown by councillors across the country.

“Congratulations to all the councillors nominated and shortlisted and I look forward to announcing the winners in November.”

Lee Jagger, Local Government, Relationship Manager, CCLA said: “Every one of the councilors on the Cllr Awards shortlist this year has had a significant and positive impact on their communities and on the lives of their individual residents.

“That’s what the councillor role is all about – ordinary people trying to make the places that we live and work better.

“CCLA is very proud to have supported these Awards from the very beginning and to be part of this important celebration of the best of local government.”

UK Government roadshow showcases Scottish talent and boosts SME exports

Government roadshow showcases Scottish talent and boosts SME exports   

  • Roadshow brings together exporters in the financial, professional, and business sector to buyers and trade experts from right across the world.
  • Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, Blair McDougall will celebrate the success of our service industries and urge more small firms to take advantage of Government export support.
  • Exports are key for the UK Government’s growth mission, supporting a fifth of UK employment, paying 7% higher wages, and delivering 28.5% higher productivity.

Small business exporters and ambitious SMEs across Scotland will be front and centre of a new roadshow in Edinburgh today, offering tailored support from the UK Government to get more SMEs exporting across the financial, professional, and business services sectors.  

The Made in the UK, Sold to the World roadshow events offer SMEs the opportunity to directly connect with commercial officers, international buyers, and Export Champions to get advice, support, and discuss real export opportunities.

Boosting exports is a key part of the government’s Plan for Change to drive growth, create well-paid jobs and put more money in people’s pockets, with stats showing businesses that export are over a quarter more productive than businesses that don’t, and pay 7% higher wages.

The roadshow will demonstrate the incredible support being made available to SMEs through the Small Business Plan, from the expansion of UK Export Finance’s capacity to the Business Growth Service.

In 2024, the US was the largest market for Scottish services after the Netherlands, which is why the roadshow will provide a workshop for businesses on exporting services to the US.

As part of the Plan for Change, each roadshow is focused on one of the eight key growth driving sectors identified in the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy to channel support to sectors with the highest potential to create jobs, boost productivity and grow the economy.

DBT Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, Blair McDougall said: ““Scottish businesses are known for providing world-class Financial and Professional services, and this roadshow will be an excellent opportunity to showcase that talent and connect businesses with new international partners, opening the door to new markets.

“Export success and the professional and business services sector are key to the government’s Industrial Strategy and Plan for Change, which will drive growth and create well-paid jobs. That is why we are doing everything we can to support our small and medium sized businesses to grow and succeed.”

Minister McDougall will be giving the keynote address before touring the roadshow, seeing the many workshops and exhibition on offer. The Minister will meet with several businesses spanning law, insurance, and financial technology sectors.

Professional and business services are worth £300 billion a year and support one in every seven jobs. Strengthening the sector is central to the Modern Industrial Strategy, which aims to maintain the UK’s position as the second largest services exporter in the world while creating the most dynamic professional and business services ecosystem by 2035.

Plans include five new centres of excellence across country to help services firms grow and adopt new technology, and additional backing through UK Export Finance to secure overseas contracts.

Scotland is home to a dynamic financial, professional and business services industry ranging from law and accountancy, to consulting and engineering. Making Edinburgh a hub for both large corporations like the Royal Bank of Scotland and for smaller firms like Predictiva.

The commercial officers and international buyers present at the event span markets and regions from around the world, from the US and Europe to Africa, the Asia Pacific, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

On hand and ready to offer his advice, will be Export Champion and Founder & CEO at Modulr, Myles Stephenson.

Modulr, based in Edinburgh, has had global success having created an industry-leading payments platform. The company has seen tremendous growth in the last 9-years being one of the UK’s fastest growing tech companies. Our Plan for Change will give SME a clear path to growth, making success stories like Modulr a reality for more UK Businesses.

Myles Stephenson, Export Champion and Founder & CEO at Modulr, said: “International expansion is a fantastic opportunity for Scottish firms to scale and achieve significant growth.

“At Modulr we’ve worked hard and invested to navigate the challenges of expanding into new markets but know it’s not easy and would like more firms to start or increase their exporting activity.

“By sharing our experience we’d like to encourage more firms to start or increase their export activity. Accessing the support is a key enabler and critical item to consider when entering overseas markets – the Department for Business Trade can help navigate this.”

Enhanced community eye care

New service expected to free up 20,000 hospital appointments a year

A new eye care service is expected to reduce hospital admissions with approved Independent Prescribing (IP) optometrists receiving funding to treat more conditions in the community.

The new Anterior Eye Service, part of the Scottish Government’s record £139 million investment in eye care this year, will support approved IP optometrists to treat nine complex eye conditions which normally require a hospital visit.

The service will free up an estimated 20,000 hospital appointments a year, with patients being treated closer to home, offering greater appointment flexibility and continuity of care.

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “This new service will mean people can get treatment for more eye conditions in the community, without the need to travel for a hospital appointment. It will get people the treatment they need faster, improving outcomes while also freeing up vital hospital capacity for more serious cases.

“This is an excellent example of the Scottish Government’s approach to shifting the balance of care towards the community, and is part of our record £139 million investment in community eyecare this year.

“I am very grateful to our community optometry profession, including Optometry Scotland, for taking part in this programme, which we estimate will save around 20,000 hospital admissions a year.

“Scotland remains the only part of UK to provide free universal NHS-funded eye examinations. This National Eye Health Week I would remind people of the importance of having free regular examinations with a community optometrist, even if they don’t think there is a problem with their vision.

“An eye examination helps with early detection of a range of sight and non-sight threatening conditions and community optometrists should always be people’s first port of call for all eye-related issues.”

NHS 24: Right Care, Right Place

🤔Confused about where to go when you or a loved one needs medical help?

It can be tricky to know where to get advice when you are ill or in pain, and choosing the wrong service can mean longer waits, more stress, and extra pressure on OUR NHS.

✅ Our #RightCareRightPlace guide can help you make the right choice, quickly, safely and as close to home as possible.

📲 Share our #RightCareRightPlace guide with your friends, family, and community.

Edinburgh School Uniform Bank: Kit Out a Kid appeal

The kids have been back at school for a few weeks but we are still very busy at ESUB. Many local young people start the academic year without the basics they need to attend school and blend in with their peers.

Our Kit Out a Kid appeal has been a huge success this year. Here’s our Ops Coordinator, Clare, with some of the uniform donations you have sent us!

It’s not too late to donate and there are a few ways you can help:

📦 Donate uniform items via our shopping partner, Give Today. https://givetoday.co.uk/edinburghschooluniformbank/

👉 Donate funds and we will do the shopping for you. https://edinburghuniform.org/donate/

📣 Spread the word – every share helps!

💙 Ready to make a difference?

Together, we can make a real difference. Let’s show Edinburgh’s young people that their community has their back.

#KitOutAKid2025

#EdinburghUniformBank

#BackToSchoolWithDignity

#Charity

#Donation

#SchoolUniform

#Youngpeople

#cityofedinburgh

#givetoday

Innovation to transform lives of stroke patients

Improved monitors to reduce the risk of further strokes

New investment in mobile heart-rate monitors could help prevent nearly 700 secondary strokes over the next five years, potentially preventing more than 300 deaths in Scotland.

Scottish Government funding of £1.9 million will support the deployment of Ambulatory Electrocardiogram (ECG) patch monitors for around 8,000 recent stroke patients each year. These small and easy-to-use chest patches will replace the larger and more cumbersome models currently in use.

As well as being more practical, they provide more accurate readings to allow doctors to make faster and more effective decisions about follow-on treatment.

A research paper found that over the next five years, use of the patches in NHS Scotland could prevent 689 secondary strokes and 319 deaths, while also freeing up the equivalent of 15.7 full-time cardiac physiologists for other vital services. Cost-savings for the NHS could amount to £14.6 million in the same period.

The compact, wireless, and water-resistant devices are worn on the skin for up to 14 days to detect rhythm abnormalities in the heart, particularly atrial fibrillation – a leading cause of stroke. The ECG patch monitors are expected to be four times more effective at detecting atrial fibrillation than current methods, reducing diagnosis and treatment times from up to 24 months to just three weeks.

Patients will also benefit from reduced travel, as patches can be applied during diagnosis or conveniently posted to their homes. Standardised access across Scotland will help eliminate regional disparities in diagnosis and treatment.  

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “The Scottish Government is clear that innovation will play a key role in reforming Scotland’s health service, and ensuring it remains able to meet the health challenges of a changing world.

“Projects such as this one are vital to improving patient outcomes, saving lives and enabling the NHS to treat people quicker and more effectively.

“This investment in innovative technology will make a real difference to the lives of thousands of stroke patients across Scotland. By accelerating diagnosis and treatment, we can help prevent recurrent strokes and improve health outcomes.

“The use of these new patch monitors is a fantastic example of how we are adopting cutting-edge solutions to renew Scotland’s NHS and ensure it can continue to deliver high-quality, efficient care.”

Katie Cuthbertson, National Director for the Centre for Sustainable Delivery, said: “Through the Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) pathway, we are rapidly scaling technologies that have the power to transform lives.

“The rollout of ECG Patch Monitors is a prime example of how innovation can drive better outcomes across the NHS.

“By detecting atrial fibrillation earlier and more accurately, we are not only preventing recurrent strokes but also freeing up vital clinical capacity to support other cardiac services. This is innovation with impact, delivered at pace and scale.”

Professor Jann Gardner, Chief Executive of NHSGGC, said: “At NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, we are proud to be at the forefront of using technology to improve patient care.

“The ECG patch programme is a powerful example of how innovation can enhance diagnosis, reduce waiting times, and ultimately lead to better outcomes for patients.

“We’re pleased that this work is now being adopted nationally, and we remain committed to leading the way in delivering smarter, more effective healthcare.”

NHSGGC Consultant Cardiologist and ANIA Clinical Lead for the CfSD Dr Faheem Ahmad, who is also Cardiology Innovation Lead for the West of Scotland Innovation Hub, has worked directly with patients using the ECG patch. “The introduction of the ECG patch has been a game-changer for both patients and clinicians.

“We’re now able to diagnose atrial fibrillation more quickly and accurately, which means we can start treatment sooner and reduce the risk of serious complications like stroke.

“The patches can be worn just like a plaster, and in comparison to the older, traditional Holter devices, they are more comfortable and easier for patients to use.”

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LifeCare announces Sweet Partnership Afternoon Tea with Lannan

Because supporting the community should taste this good!

Local charity, LifeCare Edinburgh is thrilled to announce a brand-new Sweet Partnership Afternoon Tea in collaboration with one of the city’s most celebrated bakeries, Lannan.

Taking place on Monday 20th October at 3:30pm this special event offers guests the rare opportunity to savour Lannan’s exquisite cakes and pastries in comfort – all while supporting LifeCare’s vital community services for older people across Edinburgh.

Sarah van Putten, Chief Executive of LifeCare Edinburgh, said: “This event is a chance to enjoy Lannan’s truly special famous treats without the wait – and, even more importantly, to know that every slice and every sip is helping to support older people in our community.

“LifeCare has been providing care, connection, and companionship across Edinburgh for over 80 years. Partnerships like this allow us to continue that work, reach more people, and remind our city that community care is something we can all be part of.”

Darcie Maher of Lannan said  “We’ve always been humbled by the incredible support and loyalty from our customers in our local community. Partnering with LifeCare Edinburgh felt like the perfect way to give something back. 

We’re excited to bring our bakes to this special Afternoon Tea, knowing that together, we’re not only creating a delicious experience but also raising vital funds to support some of the city’s most vulnerable people. Cake really can bring people together, and this time it’s for an important cause.”

Spaces are limited for this special fundraising event, and early booking is strongly advised. Tickets go on sale on Sunday (28th September), priced at £50 per person.

Guests are invited to bring their own drinks (BYO), and every penny raised will support LifeCare’s vital services — from delivering freshly prepared meals, to offering companionship, classes, and care for older people across Edinburgh.

Football clubs partner with UK Government to help young people into work in England

Thousands more young people are to receive life-changing support into work or training – with football clubs across England signing up to help the Westminster Government in their mission to ensure every 18-to-21-year-old has the chance to earn or learn

  • Every Premier League Football Club Charity now in talks with DWP to support the Youth Guarantee – helping more young people get into work or training.
  • Youth Hub scheme to double to over 200 locations, giving more young people access to employment, skills and wellbeing support at football clubs, libraries and community centres closer to home.
  • EFL in the Community, the charitable arm of the English Football League (EFL), and Rugby Football League confirm new partnerships, harnessing the power of sport to champion young people and break down barriers to opportunities as part of the Plan for Change.

Thousands more young people are to receive life-changing support into work or training – with football clubs across England signing up to help the Westminster Government in their mission to ensure every 18-to-21-year-old has the chance to earn or learn.

The Government’s highly successful Youth Hubs – which are hosted by sports clubs and other community venues in England, Scotland and Wales – will almost double in number thanks to £25 million investment announced today.

The funding was announced as it was revealed that every Premier League club charity in England is now discussing with Government how they can help get young people earning or learning, while the EFL in the Community and Rugby Football League have also been confirmed as new partners, supporting the same aim.

This means even more young people across the country are being helped by their local teams, as well as the Government’s other Youth Guarantee partners.

To mark the expansion of the programme and our partnership with the Premier League, Secretary of State Pat McFadden will visit Selhurst Park, home to the Palace for Life Youth Hub and Crystal Palace football club, where he will meet staff and young people benefitting from the service to see first-hand the impact it is having in the community.

Youth Hubs offer personalised, wraparound employment, skills and wellbeing support to young people in the areas of highest need. Thanks to this latest investment they will almost double to over 200 places across England, Scotland and Wales in the next three years.

The Hubs bring support, such as CV and wellbeing advice, directly to young people – taking place in settings right at the heart of the community like sports clubs, libraries and community centres.

With nearly one million young people not in education, employment or training, this expansion is helping to inspire a renewed sense of purpose and ambition in young people as well as breaking down barriers to opportunity as part of the Plan for Change.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden, said: “The number of young people not in education, employment or training is unacceptably high, and this government will not stand by while so many are robbed of their potential and our country of its future.

“Through our £25 million expansion of Youth Hubs and partnerships with the Premier League and other key organisations, we’re creating real opportunities for the next generation, ensuring support is targeted to those most in need.

“This investment will support our mission to give every young person the skills and confidence they need to thrive, as we break down barriers to opportunity under our Plan for Change.”

Run in partnership with Jobcentres, Youth Hubs bring Youth Work Coaches together with local partners including charities, councils and employers to provide everything from CV advice to skills training to careers guidance and wellbeing support.

In future, they will also provide access to mental health services, housing and homelessness support.

Erin is one of many young people who have flourished thanks to the government-funded support offered by her local Youth Hub.

Unemployed for two years and struggling with motivation, she visited the Palace for Life Youth Hub. After joining the hospitality programme where she gained valuable experience and confidence, she completed a work placement and was offered a permanent job, marking the start of an exciting new chapter.

The Secretary of State will host a roundtable at Selhurst Park with existing Youth Guarantee partners including the Premier League and Channel 4, as well as new partners such as the EFL in the Community and Rugby Football League.

Clare Sumner, chief policy and social impact officer at the Premier League said: “The Premier League is proud to support the expansion of Youth Hubs so young people, whatever their background, can access the opportunities, support and inspiration they deserve.

“Between 2022 and 2025, the Premier League has invested £1.6 billion into wider football and communities, helping support people of all ages who need it most, and create more chances for young people to learn and grow.

“By working in partnership with Government on the Youth Guarantee, we can build on this foundation and ensure Youth Hubs offer even more opportunities to help young people thrive.

“Together we are showing how football is more than a game, reaching those who need support most, helping them fulfil their potential and strengthening communities nationwide.”

The announcement is the latest example of the UK Government’s work to tackle the rising number of young people not in education, employment, or training.

In August, an additional £45 million was invested to extend funding for eight Youth Guarantee trailblazers across England whilst an extra £100 million will help to train up 40,000 young construction workers as the Government continues to break down barriers to opportunity under the Plan for Change.

It marks another step in the plan to Get Britain Working and raise living standards by modernising Jobcentres, boosting the National Living Wage, and creating more secure jobs through the Employment Rights Bill.

Edinburgh team take One Million Steps for Wild Places

Employees at Absolute Escapes, an award-winning tour operator based in Edinburgh, walked 1,156,671 steps this July while taking on the Step Up for Wild Places challenge.

Step Up for Wild Places is a UK wide challenge created by wild places charity the John Muir Trust, aimed at organisations keen to keep their workplace active while at the same time supporting the environment.

Participants are able to choose between four of the UK’s most iconic peaks — Ben Nevis, Schiehallion, Blà Bheinn, or Helvellyn — and collectively ‘climb’ its height in steps during the working day over one or more weeks, all while raising funds for the conservation of Britain’s wild places.

20 members of Absolute Escapes took on the challenge between Monday 7 to Friday 11 July, climbing the equivalent of Ben Nevis 38 times and raising £100. 

Their funds raised will go directly towards the Trust’s vital conservation work at Ben Nevis, including peatland restoration, native tree planting, removal of invasive species and path repairs. 

Beyond raising funds for wild places, the initiative also promoted wellbeing, with co-founder Andy Gabe sharing that the team reported improved mood, better concentration and lower levels of stress during the week they took on Step Up for Wild Places.

One member of Absolute Escapes told us: “We really enjoyed the competitive aspect of the challenge in the office and it absolutely got us to walk about more, even after that week.

“Our next team social involved going up Arthur’s Seat, which was definitely inspired by the challenge.”

Another participant added: “Taking part in Step Up really encouraged me to get out at lunchtime, and it made a noticeable difference to my mood and energy levels.

“It was motivating to see everyone getting involved and keeping active together.”

Ailsa Colquhoun, Corporate Partnerships Manager at the Trust, said: “We were thrilled to hear about the positive impact our Step Up for Wild Places challenge had on the wellbeing of the Absolute Escapes team and their connection to nature.

“It’s inspiring to see how a workplace challenge like Step Up can make a real difference for both wellbeing in the workplace and the conservation of the UK’s wild places.

“We’d like to thank Absolute Escapes, as well as all the other organisations who have taken part in the challenge so far, supporting our vital work on wild mountain landscapes.”

Scottish Government: Embracing the economic potential of AI

Support to help businesses harness artificial intelligence

A new programme helping Scottish companies seize the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) has been launched.

Supported by nearly £1 million of Scottish Government funding, it will offer small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) a range of support – including tailored consultancy services and grants – to introduce or expand the use of AI in order to develop new products and services, grow market share and attract new investment.

The programme will be delivered by enterprise agencies – Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and South of Scotland Enterprise – together with The Data Lab, Scotland’s innovation centre for data and artificial intelligence and the Scottish AI Alliance.

It is the first initiative to be delivered as part of AI Scotland, a transformation programme designed to support the adoption of AI. Businesses can find out more about support available on the Find Business Support website.

To launch the programme, Business Minister Richard Lochhead visited the Edinburgh Trams depot at Gogarburn in Edinburgh. Edinburgh Trams has been working with Edinburgh-based technology consultants Integrated Human Factors to develop a wearable fatigue monitoring device.

The Minister said: “Artificial intelligence is a hugely powerful, rapidly-evolving tool that can support and drive our economy. It can enable businesses to work smarter, to innovate and empower and support its workforces. The project being developed by Integrated Human Factors and Edinburgh Trams is a great example of this.

“This national programme will help ensure SMEs across the country have the right support and guidance in place to explore and develop how the adoption of AI could support expansion, competitiveness and open new markets. I’d urge all businesses to find out more about the support and guidance now available to them.

“The programme also marks an important first step in establishing AI Scotland, a true partnership bringing together expertise from across the public and private sectors to help ensure our economy, and indeed our society, is well placed to harness AI as a tool for economic growth and a force for good across society.”

Managing Director of Productivity & Business Growth at Scottish Enterprise Rhona Allison said: “The potential for AI to drive efficiency and productivity gains and increase companies’ competitiveness is immense. Yet research shows that three quarters of Scottish SMEs aren’t using any AI technologies and don’t have plans to adopt AI in the short term.

“We understand that businesses might be finding it difficult knowing where to start on AI adoption. That’s why the delivery partners have drawn on their experience to develop this ambitious Scotland-wide programme.

“It highlights the transformative potential of AI, considers the challenges of adoption, and makes practical support available to companies looking to embed AI in their operations.”

The Business Minister announced the national AI adoption programme as part of Scotland’s National Innovation Week. 

National Innovation Week